How Video Surveillance Imaging Technologies are Improving

Video surveillance has long been used to enhance an organization’s physical security, and now it’s getting even better with more applications.

The prevalence of new and emerging imaging technologies affects many areas of an organization’s operation including physical security through video surveillance. Once a dreary back-office matter, physical security today is an integral part of the operation because of its capability to deliver significantly improved image quality and provide improved functional and cost efficiency.

More particularly, new imaging technologies that deliver optimal performance and TCO (total cost of ownership) are redefining IP system design in a number of different ways.

RELATED: IP Video Optimizes Utah Transit Authority Passenger Safety

Here are four examples:

1. Situational Awareness – Conventional system designs typically use narrow field of view cameras and PTZ devices. The drawback to this design is that the system can only capture images from where the camera is pointed and additionally, pan and tilt coordinates can become inaccurate after a time further reducing their effectiveness. Conversely, megapixel single sensor panoramic cameras have a wider field of view for complete situational awareness and, with megapixel resolution, they provide a higher level of detail.

New features such as digital pan/tilt/zoom (P/T/Z), intelligent video analytics, day/night functionality and on-board SDXC storage up to 64GB provide the ultimate in operational versatility. Intelligent motion detection allows the cameras to detect motion while ignoring small, repetitive motions that could generate false alarms. The addition of built-in microphones to video surveillance cameras provides audio detection capability, making them ideally suited for blind spots, low-light areas and other locations where video detection may be challenging.

2. Applications – New developments in imaging technology have greatly expanded the field for video surveillance deployments. Even indoor applications, which are usually controlled environments, have benefitted from the newer technology.

Varying backlight conditions such as those found in entrances or by windows have been overcome with features such as backlight compensation or the even more powerful wide dynamic range (WDR) or super dynamic range (SSDR). This latter technology along with day/night capability has enabled video surveillance cameras to provide outstanding images from outdoor environments such as parking lots, perimeter fencing or loading docks.

Other advances including optical zooms and digital image stabilization have further added to the camera’s capability for expanded applications.

Along with the increase in outdoor applications, new camera technology has made inroads to the transportation sector. For instance, Samsung’s new megapixel fisheye camera is ideal for use in transportation applications such as buses and trains where it can be used internally to monitor passenger activity or externally to monitor the road or track ahead to provide video evidence of any incident.

Images captured can be dewarped and/or displayed in a variety of configurations, including single or double panorama and 360° view as well as other view configurations.

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